PM Modi inaugurates, lays foundation stones of projects worth over Rs 1,500 cr in Varanasi; lauds UP for Covid management

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday visited Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi and inaugurated and laid foundation stones of multiple development projects worth more than Rs 1,500 crore at the IIT-BHU ground.
Key projects include multi-level parking at Godaulia, Ro-Ro Vessels for tourism development and three-lane flyover bridge on the Varanasi-Ghazipur Highway.
He inaugurated various public projects and works and a three-lane flyover bridge on the Varanasi-Ghazipur highway. Projects worth around Rs 744 crore and laid foundation stones of several projects and public works worth about Rs 839 crore were inaugurated.
Uttar Pradesh governor Anandiben Patel, chief minister Yogi Adityanath and state ministers were also present on the occasion.

Here is a look at some of the key points from his address:=
'UP's handling of second wave of Covid-19 unprecedented'
*The way the state government has prevented the virus from spreading during the second wave is unprecedented.
*Today UP is a state that does the maximum number of testing across the country.
*It is a state that does maximum number of vaccinations.
*Today the government in UP is run by development not on corruption and nepotism.
*UP, which was considered difficult to do business in till a few years ago, is becoming a favorite place for Make in India.
*The Prime Minister said that the mafia raj and terrorism, which were once going out of control, are now under the grip of law.

'Kashi fought bravely against the virus'
*Kashi, along with UP, fought bravely against the coronavirus.
*Kashi is becoming a large medical hub of Purvanchal. Today facilities are being made available in Kashi too for diseases for the treatment of which one had to go to Delhi and Mumbai earlier.
*Kashi has shown that it doesn't stop or get tired even in difficult times. The past few months have been very difficult for the entire mankind. But entire UP, including Kashi, faced the mutating and dangerous form of Coronavirus with all its might.

'Skill development of youth is national requirement'
*The Prime Minister, at World Youth Skills Day Programme on Thursday, said skill development of the youth of the new generation is a national requirement and a major foundation for Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
*This is the second time we are observing this day amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The challenges of this global pandemic have increased the importance of World Youth Skill Day, he said at the event on Thursday.
*PM Modi said he is happy that more than 1.25 crore youth have been given training so far, through the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana.

PM inaugurates International Cooperation & Convention Centre–Rudraksh
*This dimension of development of Kashi, this 'International Cooperation and Convention Center - Rudraksh' today is the result of this creativity, this dynamism of Varanasi, PM Modi said.
*The Prime Minister said he has been personally involved in this project continuously.
*Every countryman is grateful to Shuga Yoshihide for his affinity towards India, he said.
*Be it strategic area or economic area, Japan is one of the most trusted friends of India today, The Prime Minister said on Thursday
*Japan's tie with India is considered to be one of the most natural partnerships in the entire region, he added.